Space saver chart desk



Jan. 23, 1968 F. HEISMAN ETAL SPACE SAVER CHART DESK 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4, 1966 Ll] ll ll II II II I II III] II II II II! If 2 45 II II [A INVENTOR-S BiM/AM/N FREEDNAN,

WILL/14M .ZJUBROW 9 FREDERICK .HEl-S/"IAN Jan. 23, 1968 F. HEISMAN ETAL 3,365,259

SPACE SAVER CHART DESK 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 4, 1966 w 0 I mi M H my M? FMH N K C M M 0 Mum 5 5% Z 5MP |lq-|. I. I. r mi Z p z a 7 Hn |wn r x Jan. 23, 1968 F. HEISMAN ETAL 3,

SPACE SAVER CHART DESK Filed Oct. 4, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS BENJAMIN F REED/714M 24 W/LL/fl/V .DUBROW 9 26 FREDERICK Hf/S/VA'N ATTURN Jan. 23, 1968 F. HEISMAN ETAL 3,365,259

SPACE SAVER CHART DESK Filed Oct. 4, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 zNvENToRs Bf/VJ/IM/N FREED/VAN,

WILL/14M .DUBRON 9- WEBER/CK HE/SNAN United States Patent 3,365,259 S PACE SAVER (IHART DESK Frederick Heisman, Pararnus, William Dubrow, East Rutherford, and Benjamin Freedman, Pararnus, N..l., assignors to S. Blickman Inc., Weehawken, NJ.

Filed Oct. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 584,234 2 Claims. (Cl. 312-194) ABSTRACT UP THE DISCLOSURE A chart desk having a chart file in a drawer in the desk and adapted to be moved readily to concealed position or to exposed position without requiring removal of the files, papers or other articles ed the top of the desk. The desk top is supported at one end by legs and at its other end by a hollow housing structure. A drawer is slidable in the housing structure and carries chart holders. One side of the drawer is higher than the other so that the chart holders with charts are supported in stepped formation.

An important object of the present invention is to provide means operatively combining a standard ofiice desk or utility table with a chart file, in such a manner as to enable the use of the desk in the ordinary manner, while allowing of an instant and ready adjustment of said chart file from an inoperative and normally-concealed position within said desk to an operative or use position without requiring the removal of files, papers and other articles from the top of the desk or otherwise interfering with the ordinary use thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combined desk and chart file wherein said chart file is completely concealed by said desk in the non-use position, so as not to change the appearance of the desk.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of acombined desk and chart file of this type whereby the desk, in the non-use position of the chart file, retains its appearance of an ordinary ofiice desk while either the desk or chart file may be independently and substantially without interference one with another.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a combined desk and extendable and retractable chart file whereby normally, that is, in the non-use or retracted position of the chart file the latter is nested within the desk of standard construction so as to be substantially concealed without changing the outward appearance of the desk.

Still another object is the provision of simple and efiicient means for operating the normally concealed chart file in a combination of the above type to its operative or use position with the chart file forming a desired working angle, and for retracting the chart file to its inoperative or nested position within the desk when not in use.

Still another object is the provision of a combined desk and extendable and retractable chart file of the type which will require no appreciably greater floor space than the space occupied with the desk in both the inoperative or retracted as well as in the operative or extended position of said chart file.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined desk and chart file of this type wherein the chart file is sag-proof when in extended operative position, the charts are positioned in a sloped arrangement for an unobstructed view of the individual chart labels, the charts are positioned for ready removal without bothersome maneuvering, and the chart file is prevented from tipping over.

A still further object of the invention according t. a modification thereof is the provision of a combined desk and chart file wherein the chart file is movable to extended operative position on each side of the desk.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a combined desk and chart file embodying one form of the invention, the chart file being shown in extended operative position.

FIG. 2'is a part plan and part sectional view taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, the charts being omitted.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the chart file in retracted inoperative position, parts being shown broken away, parts being omitted.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a combined desk and chart file embodying a modified form of the invention, the chart file being shown in extended operative position in dash lines at the rear of the desk, the charts being omitted.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of the combined desk and chart file of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a combined desk and chart file embodying another modified form of the invention, the handle being shown in raised position in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 7 is top disassembled perspective view of the end of the desk of FIG. 6, with the chart file shown in removed position, a chart holder with chart being shown preparatory to insertion into the chart file.

FIG. 7A is a view as seen from the line 7A7A of FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a view as seen from the line 88 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged part sectional and part elevational view of a modified form of slide construction for the file chart, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 10 is a view as seen from the line 1)10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 of another modified form of slide construction.

FIG. 12 is an end view thereof.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIGURE 1, there is shown a metal desk or utility table 10 rectangular in plan, comprising a desk top 12 supported on a pair of legs 14 braced by bar 15 at one end and on a housing structure 16 at the other end thereof. A horizontally-disposed drawer 18 is slidably mounted in an enlarged portion 26 of the table top and is provided with a handle 19.

The housing structure 16 includes side walls 24, 24, rear wall 26, bottom wall 28 and is open at the front. The desk top 12 constitutes the top wall of the housing structure.

In accordance with the present invention, a chart file drawer 3G is slidably mounted in the end housing structure 16. The chart file drawer 30 comprises side panels 32 and 34, panel 34 being higher than panel 32, and is substantially the height of the housing structure front opening 16. Panel 32; extends only about half way to V the top of the housing structure. A rectangular-shaped panel 36 is secured to the front edges of the side walls 32 and 34 and constitutes the front wall of the file drawer. Spaced upper and lower handles 38, 38 are secured to the outer surface of the front wall and protrude therefrom. Three tooth rack bars, an inner rack bar 40, an outer rack bar 42 and an intermediate rack bar 44 extend across the space between the side panels 32 and 34 at an angle thereto and secured at their ends to the top edges of the side walls. The rack bars are adapted to support in a vertically suspended manner by pins 45 on clipboard charts 47, the ends of the pins 46 being seated between the teeth 48 of the rack bars. The charts 46 may bear the name of a patient at the hospital whose sickness record is being kept.

The side panels 32 and 34, front panel 36 and rack bars 40, 42 and 44 constitute a file drawer adapted to be moved inwardly and outwardly of the housing structure 16 in the directions of the arrows 52, 52 of FIG. 2, by means of elongated telescopically-arranged rails 56 and 58. The rails 56 are in the form of channel-shaped members fastened to the outer surface of the side panels 32 and 34 along the bottom edges thereof. Rails 58 are in the form of slidable split tubular members, the front ends thereof receiving the rails 56 and 53 and the rear ends thereof movable on tracks 60, 60 secured to the bottom wall 28 of the end housing structure. The rails 56 and 58 preferably move on roller bearings 59. The chart holders 47 are mounted one above the other so that the identifying indicia thereon is readily readable. A spring-pressed latch 62 is mounted on the top edge of front panel 36 which is adapted to coact with a keeper 64 mounted on the under surface of the top wall 12 of the desk for locking the file drawer in closed inoperative position when desired, key-actuated mechanism indicated at 66 being provided for actuating the latch.

The modified form of desk 10 shown in FTGS. 4 and differs from the desk 16 of FIG. 1 merely in that the file drawer 36 is extendable from both the front and the rear of the desk. For this purpose, the rear wall 26 of housing 16 is provided with an opening and a rear panel 70 is provided for the file drawer, which rear panel is provided with a spring-pressed latch member '72 similar to the latch member 62 of the front panel 36', for locking the file drawer in closed position. The rear panel is also provided with handles 74- similar to handles 33 on the front panel for operating the file drawer. Half drawers 18' with handles 19 are provided respectively at the respective opposite faces of the desk.

In this form of desk, the file drawer 30 is slidable in the opposite direction of the arrows 75 of FIG. 5 so that the file drawer is extendable at the front of the desk as shown in full lines thereof and at the rear of the desk as shown in dash lines.

In FIGS. 6 to 8, inclusive there is a desk it)" constructed according to another modified form of the invention. In desk a file drawer 3d" is mounted on front and rear pairs of casters 8% and 82 respectively. The front casters 80 are swivelly-mounted as seen in FIG. 7A. A U-shaped guide rail '84 is suitably secured to the inner surfaces of the rear wall 26" and the side walls 24", 24" of the housing structure 16". This rail guides the inner and outer movements of the file drawer 30'. A U-shaped handle 86 is pivotally secured to the top end of the front panel 36" by pivot pins 83 supported in perforated ears 90 fastened to the front panel. The file drawer 30 is readily pulled out and pushed in over the door by means of the elongated handle 86.

In all other respectas, desk 10" is similar to desks 1d of FIG. 1 and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, a modified form of slide construction for file drawer 30a is illustrated. This slide construction includes a heavy duty ball bearing structure 95 to facilitate movement of a file drawer fails. The ball bearing structure 95 includes rectangular-shaped plates 94 fastened to the inner surfaces of side walls 24a, 24a of the housing structure 16a by fastening elements adapted to pass through spaced holes 95, FIG. 10, in the edges of the plates 94. An integral rail 98 extends along the center of each plate 94 projecting inwardly thereof. Elongated channel-shaped plates 100 are suitably fastened to the outer surfaces of side walls 32;; and 34a of file drawer 36a by fastening elements passing through holes 101 in these plates 100. Nested in the plates 100, there are similarly shaped inner plates 102 of smaller width and depth. The inner plates 192 straddle the rails $8 on the plates 94, and interposed between the legs 104 of the outer channelshaped plates 190 and the legs 106 of the channel-shaped inner plates 102 are ball bearing assemblies 108 interposed bet-ween the legs 196 of the channel-shaped inner plates T02 and the rails 98 are ball bearing assemblies 110. Stop pins 112 are formed on the inner surfaces of the legs 164 of the outer channel-shaped plates and are adapted to engage stop pins 114 on the outer surfaces of the inner channel-shaped plates 102 at the outer ends, and stop pins 116 are formed on the outer surfaces of the legs 1% of the inner channel-shaped plates 102 and are adapted to engage the inner edges of plates 100. Similar stop pins 118 are on the outer surfaces of the rail 98 adapted to engage the adjacent end edge of inner plate 102. These stop pins limit movement of the channel-shaped plates 16!) and 102 in both directions.

A channel-shaped plate 138 is adapted to be fastened to each side wall of the file drawer by fastening elements passed through holes 140 in the plate 138. The side legs 142 of the channel-shaped plates 138 are formed with de pressions 144. The side flanges 130 of the plates 12% straddle the side legs 142 of the channel-shaped plates 138 and interposed between the depressions 144 in the side flanges 13b of plates 128 and the depressions 144 of side legs 142 of channel-shaped plates 138, there are ball hearing assemblies 146.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, another modified form of slide construction for the file drawer is shown. This constitutes a double action slide and includes a heavy duty ball bearing structure to facilitate movement of the file drawer. The ball bearing structure includes rectangular-shaped plates 129 fastened to the inner surfaces of the side walls of the housing structure, by screws, not shown, passing through counter-sunk screw holes 122 in the plates. Plates have outwardly-extending flanges 124 along the long edges thereof terminating in inwardly extending hook shaped ends 126.

Another rectangular-shaped plate 128 slides over the plate 120 and is formed with looped-shaped flanges 130 with depressions 132 on both sides thereof and inwardly flaring ends 134 on the other side thereof. The hookedshaped ends 126 of plates 120 and the depressions 132 in the sides of the flanges 130 on the plate 128 constitute raceways for ball bearing assemblies 136.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a desk, a rectangular desk top, legs supporting the desk top at one end thereof, a rectangular housing structure under the desk top at the other end serving as a support therefor, said housing structure including side walls, a bottom well, a rear wall, the desk, top serving as a top wall, the front of the housing structure being open, and a file drawer manually slidably mounted in said housing structure, means for facilitating said sliding movement, said slidable file drawer having at least one side panel serving as a closure for the opening in the housing structure when the file drawer is in closed position, means carried by the slidable file drawer for removably supporting a plurality of charts in stepped relation, the file drawer having side walls, one side wall being higher than the other side wall, the chart-supporting means including a plurality of spaced rack bars with teeth on the top edges thereof supported between said side walls, one end of the rack bars being supported on the top edges of the higher side walls and the other ends of the rack bars being supported on the top edges of the lower side walls whereby the teeth on the rack bars are arranged in stepped and aligned relation.

2. A desk as defined in claim '1 wherein the means for facilitating the sliding movement of the file drawer includes rectangular plates fastened to inner surfaces of the side walls of the housing structure, flanges on the long edges of said plates, said flanges terminating in hooked ends, another rectangular plate nested in each of said first-named plates, looped flanges on the long edges of said nested plates, said looped flanges terminating in angular ends, the sides of said looped flanges having depressions, a channel-shaped plate nested in said second-named plate and opening inwardly, the side legs of said channel-shaped plate having depressions, ball bearings interposed between the hooked ends of said first-named plates and the depressions on one side of the looped flanges of the second- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,605,161 7/1952 Sharnpaine 312184 X 2,606,090 8/1952 Straubel 312339 2,650,871 9/1953 'Holderegger 312-322 2,888,306 5/1959 Sease et a1 312-116 2,894,794 7/1959 Mays 312-3'17 X 2,914,370 11/1959 Hensch et al 312-286 3,112,967 12/1963 Hood 312-184 3,203,749 8/1965 Bullock et a1 3l2-339 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

